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Itinerary for Apr 30 — May 3, 2013

Description: Modern hotel in downtown Richmond located next to Kanawha Plaza, two blocks from financial district, three blocks from James River, and six blocks from Capitol Square and Shockoe Slip District.

Description: Modern hotel in downtown Richmond located next to Kanawha Plaza, two blocks from financial district, three blocks from James River, and six blocks from Capitol Square and Shockoe Slip District.

Morning: This is a sample schedule. Field trips and classes may be rearranged to accommodate instructors' availability.
Class this morning begins your study of Richmond's 400 years of history, from its beginnings as a 1600s Indian settlement that became a haven for English sailors to present times. Survey historical events, people, places, politics, government, lifestyles and culture.

Lunch: Catered lunch in the hotel dining room includes a selection of sandwiches, salads, and vegetarian options, with pasta and/or other side dishes and desserts.

Afternoon: Field trip to the Virginia State Capitol and the Museum and White House of the Confederacy. The Capitol was built in 1788 from a design by Thomas Jefferson and sparked the neo-classical movement in American civic architecture. Its rotunda features Houdon’s marble of Washington from life, a work commissioned by Jefferson and Franklin. A recent renovation has created new exhibit areas. The Museum of the Confederacy's rich collection of artifacts encompasses thousands of rare objects and artwork, and a wide range of military items and artifacts that include uniforms, weaponry, flags, and rare documents. The adjacent two-story White House, which we'll be guided through, was the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his family during the War.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant includes preselected entrees (with options for vegetarians) and dessert

Evening: Class this evening...more Richmond history and culture...and preparation for your field trips tomorrow.

Description: Modern hotel in downtown Richmond located next to Kanawha Plaza, two blocks from financial district, three blocks from James River, and six blocks from Capitol Square and Shockoe Slip District.

Morning: Field trip this morning begins at Maymont, a Gilded Age estate left to the city as a park. There are gardens, a nature/wildlife center, and a mansion. Maymont is a wonderful example of lush southern gardens in the heart of the city, with elaborate Japanese and Italian gardens and 100 acres of walks, trees, shrubs, pools, and bridges. The house preserves all its original furnishings, much that is opulent and some exotic. The restoration of the lower level where the kitchen and service folks worked and stayed provides a brilliant "upstairs, downstairs" view of life at the turn of the century. Next we'll visit the Maggie Walker House in Jackson Ward, a National Historic Site. At the time of segregation Jackson Ward was the leading African American neighborhood in the city, known as the "Harlem of the South," and there is much attractive architecture and ironwork in this historic district. Maggie Walker was a banker who was the first as an African American and the first as a woman.

Lunch: Lunch in the Best Cafe at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Daily options include a selection of several entrees, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, desserts and beverages. There are vegetarian options.

Afternoon: Next, we'll visit one of Richmond's treasures that contains treasures of its own: the splendid Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA), recently renovated and expanded, is one of the top comprehensive art museums in the U.S. Explore numerous permanent galleries connected by walkways through a 4-story atrium, enjoy the sculpture garden with its reflecting pools, find gifts for children and adults in the museum shop. Information on special exhibits, collections and upcoming events is at www.vmfa.museum.

Dinner: Walk one block to dinner at the Thai Room. Entry is 3-4 steps down, and our dining room may be on the second floor (steps, no elevator). Choices include vegetarian, Thai and American entrees.

Evening: Entertainment with music from different periods in Richmond's history.

Lunch: Early lunch at 11:20 AM is catered or boxed and available in the hotel dining room. There is a selection of sandwiches, salads, and vegetarian options, with pasta and/or other side dishes and desserts.
This program ends at lunch. Checkout time for hotel rooms is 11:00 am. Thank you for choosing this Road Scholar program!

Important information about your itinerary: Please know that while we do everything we can to finalize all aspects of our programs well in advance, there are logistics that occasionally must be altered. Our website will reflect the most recent information, and we are committed to providing you with final program details no later than eight weeks prior to the start of programs outside the U.S. and three weeks prior to the start of programs within the U.S. If you ever have questions about your program, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

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The latest in light, portable, easy-to-use QUIETVOX listening devices are available on Road Scholar programs.* Whether you are outdoors, in a crowd or in a museum environment where speaking loudly is discouraged, a listening device makes it feel like our experts are speaking clearly and directly to you. Hear for yourself on a Road Scholar adventure!

*Please note that due to the nature of some programs, the remote location or government regulations, listening devices may not be available. If you’d like to know for sure if your program will offer listening devices, just call and ask an Advisor!